New Mom Gains Fresh Perspective After Lifesaving Stroke Care
March 27, 2025
Before Ann Marie Oseguera gave birth to her first child, the busy public relations executive focused all her energy on her career. Working until her due date in late November 2023, “I never really stopped to take a breath,” says the Weehawken mother. “I didn’t consider if I was living life how I wanted to, and I didn’t stop to smell the flowers.”
However, her daughter Love’s arrival set off a chain of events that threatened Ann Marie’s life and rippled forward to change how she envisions the future. Two weeks after the single mother gave birth, she suffered a devastating stroke—a development that rallied specialists at multiple Hackensack Meridian Health facilities to successfully diagnose and treat.
“I’m really thankful for the medical professionals who cared for me so well,” says the 34-year-old. “They treated my situation with urgency, and that was so crucial.”
Ominous Blood Pressure Readings
Ann Marie’s medical saga began shortly after an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery when her ordinarily low blood pressure started to rise. Days later, she made an appointment to visit her hematologist. She’d long been monitored for a blood disorder known as essential thrombocytosis, which is marked by high numbers of platelets—blood cells that promote clotting—and for which she took a daily baby aspirin.
During the appointment, Ann Marie’s blood pressure was high, prompting her to purchase an at-home blood pressure cuff to monitor her readings. Two days later, her blood pressure was 160/99 mmHg, a level that—combined with frequent migraines—told her something was drastically wrong. “My body was sending signals,” she says.
At a local hospital, Ann Marie was diagnosed with postpartum preeclampsia. The condition, characterized by severe high blood pressure and protein in the urine, typically occurs before childbirth but can extend to the weeks beyond pregnancy. After two days of inpatient treatment, she was discharged
But Ann Marie’s problems were not over. Her blood pressure continued to remain elevated, even blood pressure medication didn’t lower it. Then, when her left arm went numb one morning in mid-December—just two weeks after giving birth—she called an ambulance. It took her to Palisades Medical Center, where doctors determined Ann Marie was having a stroke. She was then taken by helicopter to Hackensack University Medical Center, a Joint Commission- and state-designated Comprehensive Stroke Center—the highest certification level for hospitals equipped to treat the most complex stroke cases.
Crucial Comprehensive Care for Stroke
At Hackensack, Ann Marie was in bad shape. A team of neurologists and other specialists determined she had experienced a type of stroke known as cortical vein thrombosis, which is caused by the spontaneous formation of a clot within the veins that drain from the brain. The diagnosis is a tricky one since it often shows up with a cerebral hemorrhage, which is what happened to Ann Marie, says Kaitlin J. Reilly-Kit, M.D., Hackensack’s director of neurocritical care and assistant professor of neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
Pregnant and postpartum persons are particularly predisposed to developing blood clots, she notes, placing them at higher risks of stroke and other serious issues.
“The blood clot caused a backup of pressure of blood in the brain,” Dr. Reilly-Kit explains. “If it were allowed to continue, we would expect that blood clot to expand and cause a much larger area of brain injury. It’s certainly a life-threatening type of stroke.
“It’s very important that Ann Marie was at a Comprehensive Stroke Center like Hackensack because she was in a vulnerable position with a difficult-to-diagnose problem,” she adds.
Two weeks later, Ann Marie—whose condition was treated with multiple medications—was able to leave the hospital. She credits her mother, other relatives and friends for caring for her daughter in her absence and while she recovered at home. “I’m lucky to have a village,” she says.
After extensive occupational therapy, Ann Marie has regained most of the function in her left arm and hand and feels fortunate to be able to care for Love independently. She plans on returning to her job in the near future, but she knows her life will never revolve around work the way it once did.
“I really understand now how fragile life can be and how important it is to live your life as best you can, day by day,” she says. “Before, work impacted everything. My life is now slower and more intentional.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our source: Kaitlin Reilly-Kit, M.D.
- To make an appointment with a neurologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about stroke care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
